Schlegel Sports Group, which is paying an undisclosed price for the club, plans to sign a new lease to remain at Cheney Stadium and to renew the affiliation with the Mariners, Rainiers general manager Dave Lewis told The News Tribune for a story in Friday editions.

"Their plans are to keep it in Tacoma," Lewis said. "They're happy with the market. They're happy both with the current conditions and with our affiliation."

The purchase agreement has been signed, and the sale is expected to be completed in September. The primary owner will be Kirby Schlegel of Dallas, owner of the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League and vice chairman of the ownership group of the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League.

Lewis said the prospective owners have gotten preapproval from the Pacific Coast League.

The Rainiers, who have played in Tacoma since 1960, rank 13th in attendance in the 16-team PCL with an average of 4,488 fans a game, compared with a league average of 6,490.

George Foster, who bought the Rainiers for $5.5 million in 1991, put the club up for sale in 2000. A deal to sell the team for nearly $11 million collapsed in 2003.